Every 14 of March Albanians celebrate the Summer Day, the country’s largest pagan festival. Summer day was the first day year of an ancient calendar of Albanians, a day celebrated centuries before the birth of Christianity.
People celebrate the end of winter, the rebirth of nature, and a rejuvenation of spirit among Albanians. Its origins are from the ancient times in the city of Elbasan but it is now celebrated massively all over the country.
Starting already on March 1st, many people wear a traditional bracelet called Verore (a word derived from summer) made of two thin braided strings usually red and white. At the end of the day, the bracelet is hung on a tree branch for good luck, and is believed that birds use it to build their nests.
